EP0131554A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Chair
Assignee: Castelli SpA
•
Filing: 1984-07-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-07-04
Abstract
Abstract A chair is described which comprises a fixed base structure (1, 2, 3,15), a seat (7), an element (4) movable relative to the fixed structure (1, 2, 3,15) of the chair, the movable element (4) being movable from a first operative position to a second operative position as a result of a thrust exerted by the body of a seated person, and resilient means (23) biassing the movable element (4) towards its first operative position. The seat of the chair has at least one part (7) movable substantially vertically (the movement of the movable element 4 being distinct from the substantially vertical movement of the movable part 7 of the seat). The chair also includes resilient means (10) for returning the movable part (7) of the seat to a raised position. and for acting as means for sensing the weight ofthe seated person, and means for adjusting automatically the load of the resilient biassing means (23) in dependence on the weight detected by the sensor means (10).
Inventors
- 👤 Ennio Rizzoli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:08
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C7/00; A47C7/36; A47C7/40; A47C7/44; A47C7/445; A47C3/00; A47C3/02; A47C3/025; A47C3/0255; A47C3/026; A47C31/00; A47C31/12; A47C31/126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
Chair comprising: - a fixed base structure, - a seat, - an element movable relative to the fixed structure of the chair, the movable element being movable from a first operative position to a second operative position by a thrust exerted by the body of a seated person, and - resilient means biassing the movable element towards the first operative position, characterised in that the seat of the chair has at least one part movable substantially vertically, the movement of the movable element being separate from the said substantially vertical movement of the movable seat part, and in that the chair further includes: - resilient means for returning the movable part of the seat to a raised position and for acting as means for sensing the weight of the seated person, and - means for automatically adjusting the load of the resilient biassing means in dependence on the weight detected by the said sensor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
Chair comprising: - a fixed base structure, - a seat, - an element movable relative to the fixed structure of the chair, the movable element being movable from a first operative position to a second operative position by a thrust exerted by the body of a seated person, and - resilient means biassing the movable element towards the first operative position, characterised in that the seat of the chair has at least one part movable substantially vertically, the movement of the movable element being separate from the said substantially vertical movement of the movable seat part, and in that the chair further includes: - resilient means for returning the movable part of the seat to a raised position and for acting as means for sensing the weight of the seated person, and - means for automatically adjusting the load of the resilient biassing means in dependence on the weight detected by the said sensor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
Chair according to Claim 1, characterised in that the movable element is constituted by a backrest support structure articulated to the fixed structure about a horizontal transverse axis, whereby the said first and second operative positions correspond to a substantially erect condition and a partially - reclined condition of the backrest, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
114 words
Chair according to Claim 1, characterised in that the movable element is constituted by a backrest support structure which is articulated to the fixed structure about a first horizontal transverse axis, whereby the said first operative position of the said movable element corresponds to a substantially erect condition of the backrest and the said second operative position corresponds to a partially-reclined condition of the backrest, and in that the seat is articulated to the fixed structure about a second horizontal transverse axis located forwardly of the said first articulation axis, the seat being connected operati-vely to the support structure of the backrest so as to recline rearwardly following the reclining movement of the backrest.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
163 words
Chair according to Claim 3, characterised in that the resilient biassing means comprise at least one resilient cartridge having a first end connected to the support structure of the backrest at a point spaced from the axis of articulation of the support structure of the backrest to the fixed structure of the chair, whereby the first end of the resilient cartridge effects a circular path about the said articulation axis when the backrest is reclined, and a second end supported by the fixed structure by means of a lever articulated to the fixed structure about an axis parallel to and spaced from the articulation axis of the backrest support structure, the second end being connected operatively to the seat, and in that the automatic adjusting means include means for locking the second end of the resilient cartridge in the position adopted as a result of the lowering of the seat caused by the weight of the seated person when the backrest is reclined.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
Chair according to Claim 4, characterised in that the locking means include a latch member movable relative to the support member of the second end of the resilient cartridge, a stop member carried by the fixed structure having a plurality of seats for cooperating with the latch member to lock the second end of the resilient cartridge in position, resilient means biassing the latch member into an inoperative position,and cam means carried by the support structure of the backrest to cause the engagement of the latch member in one of the seats of the stop member when the backrest is reclined.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
Chair according to Claim 5, characterised in that the latch member has a tooth for coo- operating with a plurality of freely rotatable rollers carried by the stop member and defining the said seats between them.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
Chair according to Claim 4, characterised in that the locking means include: a latch member movable relative to the support lever of the second end of the resilient cartridge; a stop member carried by the fixed structure of the chair; auxiliary resilient means biassing the latch member into engagement with the stop member so as to lock the support lever for the second end of the resilient cartridge, and a lever transmission for maintaining the latch member in its inoperative position against the action of the auxiliary resilient means when the backrest is in its substantially erect position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
Chair according to Claim 7, characterised in that the latch member is constituted by a roller interposed between two opposing mutually-inclined wedge surfaces belonging to the stop member and to a slide member respectively, the slide member being connected operatively to the support lever for the second end of the resilient cartridge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
Chair according to Claim 7, characterised in that the latch member is constituted by a circular sector member articulated to the fixed structure about an axis parallel to and spaced from the axis of articulation of the support lever for the second end of the resilient cartridge, the circular sector member and the support lever having facing arcuate surfaces with different curvatures and the auxiliary resilient means biassing the circular sector member into a condition corresponding to mutual engagement of the said facing arcuate surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
Chair according to Claim 3, characterised in that the automatic adjusting means comprise actuator means for connecting the seat operatively with the backrest only when the seated person starts to exert a thrust against the backrest and for allowing the movement of the seat independently of the backrest as long as the seated person does not exert the said thrust against the backrest, the said resilient return means for the seat being shaped and disposed so as to also act as resilient biassing means for the backrest.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
Chair according to Claim 10, characterised in that the actuator means comprise at least one stop member carried by the seat, and means for connecting the stop member operatively to the support structure of the backrest when the latter is reclined.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
119 words
Chair according to Claim 11, characterised in that the support structure of the backrest has an associated auxiliary member also rotatably mounted about the said first transverse horizontal axis and having a seat in which the said stop member is movable,and in that the said means for connecting the stop member operatively to the support structure of the backrest comprise a retaining lever which is articulated on the said auxiliary member,and an actuator member carried by the support structure of the backrest and arranged to engage the retaining lever so as to cause this retaining lever to engage the stop member and consequently lock the latter within the said seat of the auxiliary member when the backrest is reclined.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
Chair according to Claim 12, characterised in that at least one helical spring is interposed between a zone of the auxiliary member spaced from the first transverse horizontal axis and a zone of the fixed structure which does not coincide with this axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
Chair according to Claim 13, characterised in that the resilient return means for the seat include at least one helical spring interposed between the fixed structure and the seat.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
Chair according to Claim 14, characterised in that the resilient return means for the seat include at least one pair of helical springs interposed between the seat and the fixed structure of the chair adjacent the sides of the seat.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
Chair according to Claim 15, characterised in that the fixed structure of the chair includes a transverse member and in that each helical spring is interposed between the transverse member and the seat.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
Chair according to Claim 13, characterised in that the resilient return means for the seat include at least one leaf spring interposed between the fixed structure and the seat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
Chair according to Claim 17, characterised in that the resilient return means comprise a pair of leaf springs interposed between the seat and the fixed structure of the chair adjacent the sides of the seat.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
Chair according to Claim 18, characterised in that the fixed structure of the chair includes a transverse member and each of the two said leaf springs is housed in a casing formed by two box-shapedsupports connected to the seat and to the transverse member, respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
136 words
Chair according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said element which is movable relative to the fixed structure of the chair is constituted by the seat itself, which is pivotally mounted about a transverse horizontal axis movable vertically relative to the fixed structure of the chair,the resilient biassing means being arranged to react to a pivoting movement of the seat about the said transverse horizontal axis towards a reclined position, and the resilient means for returning the seat towards the raised position being arranged to react to vertical movements of the said transverse horizontal axis, and in that the resilient biassing means are shaped and disposed so that their opposition to the pivoting movement of the seat towards the reclined position depends on the position of the said transverse horizontal axis in the vertical sense.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
Chair according to Claim 20, characterised in that the resilient biassing means are arranged to oppose a pivoting movement of the seat towards a forwardly inclined position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
Chair according to Claim 20, characterised in that the resilient biassing means are arranged to oppose a pivoting movement of the seat towards a rearwardly reclined position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
Chair according to Claim 20, characterised in that the resilient biassing means are arranged to oppose the pivoting movement of the seat towards both a forwardly inclined position and a rearwardly reclined position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
91 words
Chair according to Claim 20, characterised in that the resilient biassing means include at least one resilient blade fixed at one end to the fixed structure of the seat and arranged to bend during a pivoting movement of the seat as a result of the thrust exerted on it by a thrust member rigid with the seat, the resilient blade being shaped and disposed so that the bending moment which is exerted on it through a predetermined angle of pivoting of the seat depends on the vertical position of the seat.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
Chair according to Claim 24, characterised in that the resilient biassing means comprise a pair of resilient blades arranged respectively to oppose the pivoting movements of the seat towards a forwardly inclined position and towards a rearwardly reclined position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
Chair according to Claim 24, characterised in that the distance between the said horizontal transverse axis and the straight line perpendicular to the zone of contact between the resilient blade and its thrust member varies on variation of the position of the seat in a vertical sense.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
Chair according to Claim 24, characterised in that the zone of contact between the resilient blade and the said thrust member moves relative to the resilient blade on variation of the height of the seat.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
Chair according to Claim 26, characterised in that the resilient blade has a stop member with a hemispherical head cooperating with the said thrust member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
Chair according to Claim 28, characterised in that auxiliary resilient means are interposed between the stop member and the resilient blade.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
Chair according to Claim 27, characterised in that the thrust member has a stop member with a hemispherical head cooperating with the resilient blade.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
Chair according to Claim 31, characterised in that auxiliary resilient means are interposed between the stop member and the thrust member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
Chair according to Claim 32, characterised in that the auxiliary resilient means comprise at least one cup spring.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
92 words
Chair according to Claim 33, characterised in that the resilient biassing means comprise a pair of resilient blades arranged to oppose the pivoting movement of the seat towards a forwardly inclined position and towards a rearwardly reclined position respectively,and in that the two stop members carried by the thrust member and cooperating with the two resilient blades are located at different distances from the pivot axis, the stop member which cooperates with the resilient blade opposing the rearward pivoting movement of the seat being located at a smaller distance from this axis.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
Chair according to Claim 20, characterised in that means are provided for adjusting the load on the resilient means for returning the seat towards the raised position.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
40 words
Chair according to Claim 20, characterised in that the resilient means for returning the seat to the raised position are constituted by a helical spring interposed vertically between the fixed structure and an element movable vertically with the pivot axis.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
52 words
Chair according to Claim 20, characterised in that the resilient means for returning the seat to the raised position comprise a resilient blade located in a substantially horizontal plane, supported at its ends by the fixed structure of the chair,and connected at its centre to an element movable vertically with the seat.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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